Traverse roll



June 4, 1968 w. H. O'BRIEN 3,385,150

TRAVERSE ROLL Filed May 31, 1966 3o 4 l o 35 O 44 g FIG.8

INVENTOR.

ATTORNE 5 WILLIAM H. 'BRIEN 1 United States Patent 3,386,150 TRAVERSE ROLL William H. OBrien, Warwick, R.I., assignor to Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.I., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No. 553,925 Claims. (Cl. 29-14%.4)

This invention relates to an improved rotary traverse for winding textile yarns and to the method of fabricating the improved traverse.

It is conventional practice to wind yarn by means of a rotary traverse wherein the yarn package is driven by surface engagement therewith, the traverse being provided with one or more helical grooves cut into its peripheral surface to guide the yarn to and fro across the surface of the package. The rotary traverse is subject to considerable abrasion from the yarn on the winding package and care must be taken to fabricate the traverse with those materials which will withstand this wear. Furthermore, high speed winding with the traverse in continuous rolling engagement with the package is known to create a substantial amount of heat which, unless checked, can be harmful to the yarn being wound.

Plastic traverses are desirable because of their case and economy of manufacture but they are not highly wear resistant and inherently have low heat transmittance. Likewise metallic traverses are desirable for their features of high wear resistance and high heat transmittance, but are relatively expensive to fabricate.

The invention herein combines the foremost advantages of the plastic traverse, namely economy and ease of manufacture with the foremost advantages of the metal traverse, namely resistance to abrasion and superior heat conductivity. The initial cost of the traverse fabricated in accordance with the invention is considerably less than that of the all-metal traverse, and by virtue of its wearresistance combined with improved quality of the yarn package wound thereby economy is achieved.

The method which is presented herein is easily achieved and may be applied to presently existing rotary traverses since the invention is concerned with covering a conventional plastic traverse about its peripheral surface with a snug fitting metal sleeve. The invention calls for stamping out a metallic sheet having one or more slots formed therein corresponding with the yarn guiding grooves of the traverse. In order to maintain the integrity of the sheet, the slots therein which extend generally lengthwise terminate at tie portions short of opposing edges of the sheet. The stamped sheet is thereupon formed into a sleeve of substantially cylindrical shape by conventional means. An adhesive is applied to the peripheral surface of the traverse and the sleeve is slid thereon so oriented that the slots perfectly match the grooves of the traverse. The sleeve is drawn into engagement with the traverse, the opposing edges are joined, and the tie portions adjacent the joinder line are removed to fully expose the COntinuous groove of the traverse. It is within the contemplation of the invention to include wear resistant yarn guides adjacent the apices of the yarn guiding grooves and to depress the narrow strips of the sleeve proximate to the yarn cross-over locations to form with the general contour of the plastic traverse to facilitate yarn traversing.

Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide an economical rotary traverse fabricated in a novel manner.

Another object of my invention is the method of fabrication which comprises the application of a one-piece slotted wear resistant sleeve having a relatively high thermal conductivity to the peripheral surface of a grooved substantially non-wear resistant rotary traverse.

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Other and further object-s will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a conventional plastic rotary traverse which has been modified in preparation for the application thereto of a metallic sleeve;

FIG. 2 is illustrative of a metallic sheet of uniform thickness in which slots conforming to the continuous groove of the rotary traverse of FIG. 1 have been fashioned;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the step of forming the metallic sheet into a cylinder;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation indicating the step of introducing a substantially cylindrical metallic sleeve onto a plastic rotary traverse modified as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation indicating a subsequent step of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section view wherein the sleeve has been fully bonded to the traverse and wherein the notch occurring at the joining line of the opposing edges of the sleeve has been filled in;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a yarn guide insert applied to a modified traverse at the points of yarn reversal; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan of the insert illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional non-metallic rotary traverse 10. Traverse 10 is provided with reversely pitched interconnected grooves 12 and 14 in its peripheral surface for receiving and guiding the yarn in a manner to traverse it axially back and forth substantially the full length of the traverse. The traverse is further provided with a channel 16 extending the length of the package and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. The purpose of this channel will be subsequently described.

Since the highest incidence of wear from a running strand of yarn occurs at the locations of yarn reversal, it is desirable, in keeping with the spirit of the invention, to reinforce those locations. Hence a radial bore 18 is formed in the surface of the traverse 10 at each of the yarn reversal points located adjacent the ends of the traverse. Into each bore a yarn guide (see FIG. 7) may be inserted which conforms closely therewith, adhesive being desirably applied thereto assure a permanent disposition. The yarn guide, preferably composed of metal, ceramic material, or other wear-resistant substance, is provided with a base portion 21 and an upstanding yarn engaging surface 21a against which the winding yarn is guided.

Sinceit is proposed to apply a sleeve to the traverse, it may be desirable to reduce the peripheral surface of the traverse by an amount similar in thickness to that of the sleeve. Such reduction of the traverse diameter is usually accomplished by machining and it is preferable that the surface remain thereafter in a somewhat roughened state for ease of the later application of adhesive thereto.

FIG. 2 illustrates a substantially flat sheet 22, preferably metallic, which has been fashioned as by a stamping process. The slots 12a and 14a closely correspond to the grooves 12 and 14 respectively formed in the traverse 10 but have a width slightly smaller than the outermost width of the grooves. Various tie points indicated as at 24 and 26 serve to maintain the integrity of the sheet. Without these tie points, it will be obvious that the sheet 22 would separate into several distinct pieces. The edges of the slots 12a and 14a are ground smooth to remove any burrs or sharp edges which might harm a winding strand of yarn. Subsequent to the step of fashioning the fiat sheet 22 in accordance with the showing of FIG. 2, the sheet is operated upon to take the shape of a cylindrical sleeve having generally the diameter of the traverse 10. This step can be accomplished by means of a pair of parallel rollers 26a and 26b which rotatably engage the sheet, drawing it into engagement with a third idler roller 28 parallel to the other rollers but raised somewhat with respect to the incoming sheet. As the incoming sheet engages idler 'roller 28, the sheet is continuously deflected, the relative heights of rollers 26b and 28 determining the arc which is imparted thereto. The arc chosen is one which will cause the formation of a sleeve slightly larger than that of traverse 10 and wherein the edges 30 and 32 are slightly spaced apart. Such a semi-fabricated sleeve is seen at 22 in FIG. 4 as it is being drawn onto traverse 10.

Said FIG. 4 illustrates the modified traverse 10 of FIG. 1 to which an adhesive having suitable composition, for example, one having an epoxy base, has been administered. The sleeve 22, to which adhesive may or may not have been applied, is thereupon drawn over the traverse 10 so that the space between edges 30 and 32 is generally aligned with channel 16, after which a copper strip 34 (see FIG. 6) is desirably placed in the channel. The sleeve is accurately located on the traverse such that slots 12a and 14a correspond exactly with corresponding grooves 12 and 14. Circular holes 35 maybe aligned to exactly overlie those recesses 3541 which house the screws to secure a conventional traverse 10 to the traverse shaft of a winding machine. Clamps 36 (see FIG. are employed to compress the sleeve onto the traverse. As the fastener 38 is tightened, edges 30 and 32 are drawn closer together until they touch at all points along a common line. Dowels or the like passing through recesses 35a and corresponding holes 35 would assure the fixed position of sleeve 22 on traverse during the bonding operation. Two or more of the clamps 36 equally spaced across the surface of the sleeve would assure substantially equalized bonding pressure over the entire surface of the traverse. The clamps are maintained in place until the adhesive cures and the bond is complete.

It will be appreciated that even when the sleeve 22 has been bonded to the traverse 10, edges 30 and 32 will not meet plane-to-plane but only along a common line due to the thickness of the sleeve. This disparity takes the form of a notch 40 V-shaped in cross-section (see FIG. 6). The edges 30 and 32 are therefore joined together to prevent any tendency of the sleeve to separate from the traverse as well as to fill in the notch extending across the face of the traverse. The method of joinder and the agents used will vary depending upon the composition of the sleeve 22. One method which has been successfully used employs an electron beam welder by means of which the elements to be joined serve as their own filling material. For example, in the instance of this invention, the metal along the edges 30 and 32 actually melts and is re-fusc-d. While this results in a slightly flattened or depressed zone 42 where the V-shaped notch 40 was previously located, it is easily smoothed down by known methods to conform with the remainder of the sleeves peripheral surface. The copper strip 34 serves to deflect the heat of the electron gun away from the plastic traverse. However, any conventional welding or soldering process may be used in which the copper strip 34 would not be required and in which the channel 16 would serve as a reservoir for any beads of metal which might develop on the underside of the sleeve as a result of the welding process. Without the channel or similar depression, an undesirable effect would tend to result from localized bulging of the sleeve beneath the weld line.

After the edges 30 and 32 have been joined, it is necessary to eliminate all of the tie portions such as those formed at 24 and 26 to assure the continuity of the yarn guiding grooves 12 and 14. For a similar reason, it is deemed of importance to depress the relatively long and narrow land portions 44 and 45 of sleeve 22 at the crossover points (see FIG. 2) onto their corresponding land portions formed on the traverse. It would also be desirable to smooth, as by machining, the peripheral surface of the sleeve, particularly in the vicinity of the line of joinder.

The modified traverse will thus closely resemble the original unmodified traverse. In operation, it will be highly wear resistant for the reason that its peripheral surface which is in continuous rolling engagement with the winding package is of a material having a higher resistance to wear than the main body thereof. Furthermore, wear to the yarn guiding grooves is reduced because the advancing strand of yarn usually engages the slots which are slightly narrower than the grooves at their outermost regions. Since the sleeve material is chosen to have higher heat conductivity than the main body, excessive heat will be transmitted away from the winding package. Also of importance is the fact that the modified traverse is considerably less expensive than a conventional traverse fabricate-d entirely from the high wear resistant and heat conductive material.

The general method which has been disclosed herein is not to be limited to specific materials. For example, it is foreseeable that the traverse 10 may be of metallic construction while the sleeve to be applied there-to is of plastic material. Thus, since various changes can be made in the above-described method and article of manufacture without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be deemed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the appended claims will cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of constructing a rotary traverse roll comprising the steps of, providing a traverse roll having yarn engaging grooves therein for guiding a strand of yarn, forming a sheet of wear resistant material with slots therein corresponding to the grooves in said traverse roll, providing tie portions across the slots between the sections of said sheet separated by said slots for main taining the structural integrity of the sheet, forming the sheet into a substantially cylindrical sleeve, securing the sheet to said traverse While aligning said slots with said grooves, joining the edges of said sheet together, and finally removing the tie portions to interconnect said slots.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of initially reducing the radius of the rotary traverse by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the wear resistant sheet.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of forming a longitudinal slot in the surface of the traverse in the region where the edges of the sleeve are joined together.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 including the step of inserting a strip of heat deflecting material into said longitudinal slot.

5. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a wear resistant ya-rn guide at the ends of said yarn engaging grooves.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,219,085 IO/1940 Watson 29148.4 2,752,632 7/1956 Winstead 29148.4 XR 3,007,231 11/1961 Garver 29-l48.4 3,214,309 10/1965 Di Leo et al. 29-1484 XR THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A ROTARY TRAVERSE ROLL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF, PROVIDING A TRAVERSE ROLL HAVING YARN ENGAGING GROOVES THEREIN FOR GUIDING A STRAND OF YARN, FORMING A SHEET OF WEAR RESISTANT MATERIAL WITH SLOTS THEREIN CORRESPONDING TO THE GROOVES IN SAID TRAVERSE ROLL, PROVIDING TIE PORTIONS ACROSS THE SLOTS BETWEEN THE SECTIONS OF SAID SHEET SEPARATED BY SAID SLOTS FOR MAINTAINING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SHEET, FORMING THE 